Do you have a bucket list? Is there a list of things you’d like to achieve before you die?
The Canadian Press has published a story titled, US teacher, 100, gets overdue degree a day before dying, crossing last item off “bucket list”. It tells the story of Harriet Richardson Ames, a retired US teacher who turned 100 on the 2nd of January. Her dream was to earn her bachelor’s degree in education. She received the degree on Friday and passed away on Saturday.
Harriet’s daughter, Marjorie Carpenter, says getting the degree was the last item on her mother’s bucket list.
The work required for the degree had been completed some years ago but Harriet didn’t know if she’d earned enough credits towards the bachelor’s degree. With her health failing she had been living in hospice care. College officials drove the document to Harriet’s bedside on Friday.
Through the years, she had taken classes to earn credits for her degree. With her eyesight failing, she stopped after retiring in 1971 and was never sure if she had enough credits.
Her wish for a degree became known when a Keene State film professor interviewed her a couple of years ago for a piece on the college’s own centennial, which the school celebrated last year.
The school decided to research her coursework and see if it could award Ames her long-sought diploma. The offices of the provost, registrar and other departments worked quickly in the last month to determine, that indeed, it could. – Canadian Press
I’ve heard many stories of people hanging on to life until they achieve something or see a particular person one last time. It’s amazing how strong the human will can be. That being the case maybe I should add something to my bucket list. “Live long enough to celebrate my 100th birthday.”
I wonder if this story is also a warning to us to make sure that we’re always moving forward and working towards something. Do you think that having specific goals gives us the strength and a reason to face and embrace each new day?
So what’s on your bucket list? What do you want to do before leaving this earth?
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